Dementia's silent symptom. How movement difficulties could signal the disease

Charitable organization Alzheimer Scotland, which lends support to dementia patients, stresses that dementia isn't solely characterized by memory loss. There are other distinctive symptoms to watch for.

A particular symptom calling for special focus relates to the movement patterns of those with dementia, most evident during tasks like climbing stairs. Dementia patients may find it difficult to lift their feet, thus escalating the risk of trips or falls.

"Dementia typically contributes to problems with spatial orientation. Incidents like slips, stumbles, and falls become increasingly prevalent as the disease progresses," states Alzheimer Scotland. They emphasize the importance of quickly identifying any changes in movement capabilities as a potential early warning sign of dementia.

Nonetheless, it's crucial to remember that each dementia case is unique, and how the disease impacts an individual hinges upon which areas of the brain the disease most affects.

The symptoms of dementia encompass:

- Alterations in behavior (e.g., agitation, aggression, depression, anxiety, indifference, disengaging socially, unsuitable reactions, impulsive actions, and exhibiting behaviors not formerly observed),

- Memory deterioration,

- Concentration challenges,

- Difficulties performing familiar everyday tasks (like disorientation due to minor changes during shopping),

- Communication difficulties (such as struggles to find the right words, constructing sentences, and difficulty keeping up with conversations),

- Confusion about time and place,

- Changes in mood,

- Obstacles in planning, organizing and problem-solving,

- Sudden clumsiness, impaired spatial awareness, and faulty distance judgment.

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Persistent symptoms unattributable to other medical or psychological conditions could indicate this disease. Moreover, according to scientific predictions, by the year 2050, as many as 153 million people will be affected by dementia, making it crucial to glean as much information about it as possible.